The government views STI not merely as a standalone sector but as a cross-cutting growth accelerator that will drive double-digit growth by transitioning Uganda into a knowledge-based economy, thereby increasing national competitiveness and total factor productivity.

Government, has so far, made strategic strides by elevating the STI Secretariat to the Office of the President and increasing R&D funding, with a goal to raise gross expenditure on R&D from 0.4% to 1% of GDP. The e-mobility ecosystem is one of the potential areas for Uganda to position herself as a value chain leader and become a net-source for e-mobility in Uganda. The ecosystem of the e-mobility industry exhibits many of the facets of “building an independent, integrated and self-sustaining economy” espoused under the NRM 10-Point Programme. Uganda already has two known private sector companies (Zembo and Bodawerk) and one parastatal company (Kiira Motors) with operational e-mobility services. As an early starter in e-mobility, Uganda’s successful transition of even half of its public transport fleet (buses, taxis and bikes) from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles could spur a new product within its export basket for the region in the order of US$1.5 to US$5.0 billion.

Looking toward 2030, the government is prioritizing the establishment of STI Parks and regional innovation hubs to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Under NDP IV, the strategy focuses on the 4^th Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology to modernize the mineral and agricultural sectors. By formalizing start-ups through the Digital Transformation Road Map and de-risking private sector innovation with targeted grants, Uganda aims to move its Global Innovation Index (GII) score from 17.1 toward a target of 25, ensuring that local innovations reach commercial scale and global markets.